When you introduce fruit to your baby's diet, usually around the time he is 6-months-old, you may notice that he is sensitive to certain foods. It is possible for him to develop a rash after eating foods such as fruit. The rash could indicate an allergic reaction or simply skin sensitivity.
Allergies and Rashes
If your baby has eczema or has been sensitive to other types of foods, ask her doctor about feeding her fruit to avoid a potential allergic reaction. Her doctor can recommend which types of fruit to start with and at what age you can offer it. If your baby eats a fruit she is allergic to, she may develop a skin rash.
Fruit to Avoid
According to KidsHealth, you should wait until your baby's first birthday to give him citrus fruits or juice made from citrus fruit, including oranges, lemons, limes and grapefruit. These fruits are acidic and can give your baby a painful diaper rash.
Identifying and Preventing Rashes
Once you introduce a new fruit to your baby, wait a day or two before introducing another food. If your baby develops a rash, you will be able to know which new food is the cause. If you decide to give your baby fruit yogurt around 6 months of age, choose a fruit that your baby has already tried. If your baby develops an irritation around his mouth after eating foods, try putting petroleum jelly around his mouth before he eats. The petroleum jelly will act as a protective barrier for his skin.
Precautions
Be sure to clean fruit before giving it to your baby. If you give her fruit juice, wait until she is 6-months-old and offer only 100 percent juice. Make sure that juice is offered only once or twice a day and does not take the place of breast milk or formula in her diet.
Warning
If you notice that your baby has a rash after eating fruit or any other type of food, let her doctor know. Call her doctor immediately if she has swelling of the lips or tongue, vomiting, diarrhea or wheezing. This could indicate an allergic reaction.
